I am being a mean pet owner tonight!

[Wcross]

I have three pups about 10 weeks old and almost ready to make the move outside. I put them out 15 minutes ago and they are crying at the door. They are not in danger at all, the parents are with them. The temps are in the 50's and they have food/water. I am going to wait an hour before I allow them to enter the house again.

[Maeve]

1. Minor recommendation

Don't let them in even then if they are whining--wait till they stop, even if it's just for a few seconds. Otherwise, they might figure they'll get if if they just whine loooong enough.

what kind are they?

[Wcross]

4. Its hard to do.

I carried those guys into the house after they were born, for the past two months they have entertained me to no end. I will not let them back in for a full hour.

On Edit; They are sooners (sooner one breed than another). I rescued the (2)moms two weeks before birth- I also took in the male dog. I am planning on keeping all six.

[Dookus]

2. heheh...

You have a harder heart than me, I think. I think THREE puppies would melt mine ;)

[RebelOne]

3. Boy, it would take a hard heart to hear those pups.

crying at the door and not let them in. Temps in the 50s is pretty cold for dogs who are so young. I'm sorry, but I am an animal lover and I could never do that to those babies.

[SoCalDem]

5. Ease them into it.. Start putting them out in the morning when the sun

is starting to warm things up a bit.. Leave them out there all day, and let them in at night.. Put their bed by the door.. They will probably want to go out in the morning.. Then just start letting them in later and later, until they just stay out..

They still have their baby coats, and the extreme in temp might make them sick..

Would YOU be comfortable to be out there all night?? That's the litmus test.. Unless they are Huskies, or Malmutes, their fur is probably not "outdoor-in-the-winter" fur..

Just because lots of dogs survive outdoors at night in the cold, does not mean it's good for them :(

[Wcross]

8. They have been outside before...

Just not at night. I took them out today for a mile walk along the fenceline, they loved it!

[Divernan]

10. Don't start putting animals out in the middle of winter.

Animals develop their heavier winter coats gradually every year, just as the seasons change gradually (or used to before the crazy weather patterns of late). Is this your personal theory of dog raising, or is there a vet or dogbook which advises putting young puppies outside at night starting in December?

On edit: I just checked a couple of dog raising websites, and they agree that puppies and kittens are more susceptible to hypothermia than adult animals, and that dogs kept outdoors should have a small, cozy, insulated doghouse - warm, draft free shelter. Small is important because it keeps in the animal's body heat. Straw is the preferred bedding, not old blankets, which can hold moisture.
remember that shivering is the first sign of hypothermia.

[Wcross]

11. I left them out for one hour

All are back inside now, no shivers at all. I am trying to get them to poop outside for a change. The time outside would be shorter if it was cold out but 50 degrees won't kill them. Momma was with them at all times and the Dad was nearby. I think 10 weeks is old enough for these guys-the mom weened them in 4 weeks!

[Kamika]

6. why do you do that?

just curious, i never had a dog

[Robb]

7. Couple of reasons

The biggest is to get them comfortable with the idea of spending a little time outside. This is important, because that's ultimately where you want them to think the restroom is. ;)

[LiberalFighter]

9. The only other thing I would do...

would make sure they are not waiting on cement. If they are... then put a wood plank at the spot so they don't have the cold from the cement.

When I had my poodle out in the garage I turned an old wooden bottled soda container upside down and placed a tupperware dishpan on top with a couple of towels inside. That way it wasn't directly on the garage floor. Since then even though I put a heater in the garage I now have her in the house in the washer dryer area when I go to work.

My dog is a house dog so the only time she would be outside is for poddy call or to give her a walk.